Printing system, printing method and recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention aims at providing a printing system and technique correctly reflecting supplied color information, and a technique of managing color information in a centralized manner thereby facilitating maintenance of data. The printing system has a color information database DB in which color information is registered, and the color information has respective items of “color name”, “ink name”, “printing order”, “screen angle”, “process colorization instruction”, “pseudo color” and “ink type”. In print processing, it acquires a color name specified as the color of a prescribed area in digital data subjected to printing, and retrieves and extracts color information corresponding thereto from the color information registered in the color information database DB. Then, it performs raster image processing and performs print processing on the basis of the extracted color information. Also in confirmation output, it performs similar processing with the color information database DB managed in a centralized manner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technique of performing printprocessing, proof output processing and the like employing colorinformation, and more particularly, it relates to conversion of colorinformation to digital data (conversion to electronic data).

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

In a conventional digital printing apparatus, such a technique thatinformation related to a specific color is transmitted to a later stepwith a memo written on a paper medium or the like is employed whenperforming print processing based on digital data.

While proof output or the like is performed for a use for confirmingfinishing of printed matter or the like also in a printing operation bysuch a digital printing apparatus, it is the present situation thatcolor information in this proof output is subjected to managementseparately from color information related to final printed matter.

In the aforementioned technique by information transmission employing amemo or the like, however, it is difficult to prevent occurrence oferrors, and there is such a problem that a step of a confirmationoperation or the like is excessively required for preventing errors.

The situation also expressible as double management between printprocessing and proof processing as described above is problematic from apoint of implementing efficient data management.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in consideration of theaforementioned subjects, and a first object thereof is to provide aprinting system capable of correctly reflecting supplied colorinformation and a technique related thereto. A second object is toprovide a technique of managing color information in a centralizedmanner thereby facilitating maintenance of data or the like.

The present invention is directed to a printing system performingprinting on the basis of digital data, which comprises a) a printingcontrol unit managing color information, having registration meansregistering color information including color names and prescribedinformation related to the color names, specified color name acquisitionmeans acquiring a color name specified as the color of a prescribed areain digital data subjected to printing, color information extractionmeans retrieving and extracting color information corresponding to theacquired color name from the color information registered in theregistration means and raster image processing means performing rasterimage processing on the basis of the extracted color information, and b)printing means performing print processing on the basis ofrasterize-processed data obtained by the raster image processing.

Therefore, it is possible to correctly extract color informationcorresponding to a color name specified as the color of a prescribedarea in digital data subjected to printing and perform print processingon the basis of the extracted color information. In other words, it isnot necessary to set color information transferred by a memo or the likeper printing dissimilarly to the prior art, but print processingcorrectly reflecting supplied color information in digital datasubjected to printing is enabled.

The present invention is also directed to that the color informationincludes information as a color plate and the printing means performsthe print processing on the basis of the information as the color plateincluded in the color information extracted by the color informationextraction means.

The printing means performs print processing on the basis of theinformation as the color plate included in the color informationextracted by the color information extraction means of the printingcontrol unit, whereby it is possible to perform print processing whilecorrectly reflecting information related to the color plate.

The present invention is also directed to that the color informationextracted by the color information extraction means includes the inkname of a first ink to be charged in the printing means, and theprinting control unit further comprises confirmation means comparing theink name of a second ink packaged in the printing means with the inkname of the first ink thereby performing ink confirmation processing.

It compares the ink name of the first ink to be packaged in the printingmeans and the ink name of the second ink packaged in the printing meanson the basis of the color information extracted by the color informationextraction means thereby performing ink confirmation processing, wherebyit is possible to automatically confirm whether or not setting of theinks is correct.

The present invention is also directed to that the print processingincludes trap processing deciding the direction of creeping of a plate,and the trap processing is performed on the basis of information relatedto printing order included in the color information extracted by thecolor information extraction means.

It performs the trap processing deciding the direction of creeping ofthe plate on the basis of the printing order included in the colorinformation extracted by the color information extraction means, wherebythis trap processing can be performed while correctly reflectingsupplied color information.

The present invention is also directed to that the printing systemfurther comprises confirmation output means performing confirmationoutput of printed matter, the color information includes informationrelated to a pseudo color for expressing the color corresponding to thecolor name, and the confirmation output means performs confirmationoutput processing on the basis of the information related to the pseudocolor included in the extracted color information.

The color information includes information related to the pseudo colorfor expressing the color corresponding to the color name and theprinting system retrieves and extracts the color informationcorresponding to the color of the prescribed area in the digital datasubjected to printing from the registered color information and performsconfirmation output processing on the basis of the information relatedto the pseudo color included in the extracted color information, wherebysimulation display can be performed on the basis of correct information.Further, the color information related to the pseudo color is registeredin association with various information related to the color plateemployed for printing and the color information is managed in acentralized manner, whereby maintenance of data or the like is easy.

The present invention is also directed to that the registration meansretrieves, extracts and registers color information included in digitaldata.

The registration means retrieves, extracts and registers the colorinformation included in the digital data, whereby a registrationoperation can be efficiently performed.

The present invention is also directed to that it further comprises aclient coupled to the printing control unit through a communicationsystem, and the client can access the color information registered bythe registration means through the communication system.

It comprises the client capable of accessing the registered colorinformation through a communication line, whereby it becomes possible toperform management of color information also by the client by reading orwriting the color information registered in the printing control unit asto the color information managed in a centralized manner in the printingcontrol unit, and maintenance of data is more facilitated.

The present invention is also directed to a printing method performingprinting on the basis of digital data, including a step of registeringcolor information including color names and prescribed informationrelated to the color names, a step of acquiring a color name specifiedas the color of a printing object area in digital data subjected toprinting, a step of retrieving and extracting color informationcorresponding to the acquired color name from the registered colorinformation, a step of performing raster image processing on the basisof the extracted color information, and a step of performing printprocessing on the basis of rasterize-processed data obtained by theraster image processing.

Thus, it is possible to correctly extract the color informationcorresponding to the color name specified as the color of the prescribedarea in the digital data subjected to printing for performing printprocessing on the basis of the extracted color information. In otherwords, it is not necessary to set color information transferred by amemo or the like per printing dissimilarly to the prior art, but printprocessing correctly reflecting supplied color information in digitaldata subjected to printing is enabled.

The present invention is also directed to a computer-readable recordingmedium recording a program to be read and executed by a computer therebymaking the computer function as the printing control unit in theaforementioned printing system. A similar effect can be attained also inthis case.

The present invention is also directed to a computer-readable recordingmedium recording a program to be read and executed by a computer therebymaking the computer function as the client in the aforementionedprinting system. A similar effect can be attained also in this case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the system structure of aprinting system 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware structure of acontroller 20.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the controller 20.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of color information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of color information related tointermediate colors.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing operations of the printing system 1.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a flow related to a step S40.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a flow related to a step S30.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen G1 for setting color information.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A. System Structure

<Outline>

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the system structure of aprinting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this printing system 1 comprises a printing machine40 performing printing with at least one plate (five plates in FIG. 1)on the basis of digital data and a printing control unit (hereinafterreferred to as “controller”) 20 rasterizing digital data subjected toprinting and supplying the rasterized digital data to the printingmachine 40. The controller 20 and the printing machine 40 are connectedwith each other through a communication line CL, and capable oftransmitting/receiving various types of information to/from each other.

This printing system 1 is a printing system decomposing a document suchas a document or an image of multi-color printing (four-color printingof YMCK, for example) to color data corresponding to respective platesby the controller 20 and performing printing of a plurality of colors bythe respective plates in the printing machine 40 in a shared manner.

<Printing Machine 40>

The aforementioned printing machine 40 is a digital printer, exposureheads 44 a to 44 e performing exposure of machine plates and printingmechanisms 45 a to 45 e performing printing by the machine platesobtained by these exposure heads 44 a to 44 e are serially coupled inthe inner part as to the respective ones of a plurality of printingcolors, a feeding part 42 automatically performing feeding is packagedin the most upstream side, and a delivery part 43 automatically sortingand storing delivered printed matter is packaged in the most downstreamside.

<Controller 20>

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware structure of thecontroller 20. The controller 20 is a computer system comprising a CPU2, a storage part 3 including a semiconductor memory and a hard disk orthe like, a media drive 4 reading information from various types ofrecording media, a display part 5 including a monitor and the like andan input part 6 including a keyboard and a mouse or the like. The CPU 2is connected to the storage part 3, the media drive 4, the display part5, the input part 6 and the like through a bus line BL and aninput/output interface IF. The media drive 4 reads from a portablerecording medium 9 such as a CD-ROM, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or aflexible disk information recorded therein. This computer system reads aprogram from the portable recording medium 9 recording the program,thereby having various functions such as a color information databasefunction related to color information described later, a registrationfunction of a printing job and the like.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the controller 20. The functionof the controller 20 is hereafter described with reference to FIG. 3.

In a data receiving part 20 a, it receives document data transmittedfrom a client 10 (see FIG. 1) described later arranged on a front end.

A control part 20 b performs transfer of data with respective partswhile having a job management function which is management of executionof the printing job including timing control described later, a progressmanagement function which is management of the situation of progress ofthe printing job, a rasterize management function which is management ofthe situation of execution of rasterization, an instruction datamanagement function which is management of an instruction input by anoperator and a color information database management function performingmanagement of a database related to color information described later.

A user interface part 20 c has a GUI control function which is controlof display by a GUI (Graphical User Interface), an input controlfunction and an edit function (registration function) of the databasesuch as addition or change of color information in a color informationdatabase described later. subjected to printing on the basis of theextracted color information.

Further, the generated data after raster image processing is output tothe printing machine 40 through the output part 20 e, and printprocessing is performed in the printing machine 40.

The printing operation processing part 20 d not only generates the datafor output processing in the printing machine 40 but also performs asimilar operation when making a simulation image displayed on a colordisplay as the display part 5 of the controller 20 and when making arough image (thumbnail image) for reference or the like.

<Client 10>

The printing system 1 (see FIG. 1) comprises a plurality of externalterminal units (hereinafter referred to as “client computers” or simplyas “clients”) 10 connected to the controller 20 through thecommunication line CL on its front end. This client 10 is now described.

The client 10 is a computer system having a hardware structure similarto the aforementioned controller 20, and comprises an internal structureof a CPU, a memory, a hard disk and the like, a color display as adisplay part and a peripheral device such as a keyboard as an inputpart.

At this point, the client 10 has functions similar to the controller 20,while the color information database DB storing color information is notconstructed in the client 10 among the same. The color informationdatabase is constructed only in the controller 20, and the colorinformation related to the printing system 1 is managed in a centralizedmanner.

The client 10 is capable of accessing (reading and/or writing) the colorinformation database DB constructed in the storage part 3 in thecontroller 20 through the

In a print operating processing part 20 d, it performs raster imageprocessing (or rasterize processing) on digital data subjected toprinting. Thus, output data for each plate is generated by decomposingdocument data to color data corresponding to the respective plates ofthe printing machine 40. In this raster image processing, information ofthe color information database DB of the storage part 3 is employed.

An output part 20 e functions as an interface with the printing machine40 and a proof printer 30 (described later), and performs data transferto the exterior or the like.

Further, the storage part 3 (see also FIG. 2) has a program storage part3 a storing all or part of the read program a data storage part 3 bstoring document data as the digital data subjected to print processingetc. and data after rasterization obtained by rasterizing the documentdata, and a color information storage part 3 c storing the colorinformation stored as the database (color information database) DB. Thecolor information is managed through the color information database DBstored in this color information storage part 3 c.

This color information database DB has a registration function ofregistering color information (see FIG. 4) including a prescribed colorname (color name) and prescribed information related to this color name.This registration is performed through the user interface part 20 c. Asdescribed later, it is also possible to previously automaticallyretrieve, extract and register it from various types of document datareceived in the data receiving part 20 a.

The printing operation processing part 20 d acquires a color namespecified as the color of a prescribed area in the document datasubjected to printing, and retrieves and extracts color informationcorresponding to the acquired color name from the color informationregistered in the color information database. The printing operationprocessing part 20 d performs raster image processing related to thedocument data communication line CL, i.e., reading the color informationfrom the color information database DB or writing color information. Asto the color information managed in the controller 20 in a centralizedmanner, therefore, it becomes possible to read or write the colorinformation thereby performing management of the color information alsoby the client 10, whereby maintenance of data is facilitated.

Further, each client 10 is also capable of creating and editing documentdata (electronic page data) such as data by a page description language,PDF data or the like, preserving the same in the internal hard disk,transmitting these data to the controller 20 and performing an operationsuch as registration of the printing job described later.

Also in the client 10, it is possible to make simulation display on thecolor display as the display part of the client 10, similarly to thecontroller 20. Thus, it is possible to confirm an output state ofprinted matter on the color display of the client 10 in advance of printprocessing by the printing machine 40. Also in this case, raster imageprocessing is performed on the basis of the information of the colorinformation database DB constructed in the storage part 3 of thecontroller 20, to perform formation of a simulation image. In this case,the raster image processing may be performed on the controller 20 side,or may be performed on the client 10 side.

Not only the simulation display but also a rough image (thumbnail image)for reference or the like can be displayed in the color display as thedisplay part of the client 10. Thus, the contents of the printed mattercan be confirmed on the color display in advance of print processing bythe printing machine 40.

<Proof Output>

The printing system 1 also comprises the proof printer 30 (see FIG. 1)for trially making printing output for proofing. This proof printer 30is connected to the controller 20 through the communication line CL, andoutput processing is performed on the basis of an output instructionfrom the controller 20. Thus, the final output state of printed mattercan be confirmed in advance of regular press by the printing machine 40.As described later, print processing is performed with the colorinformation registered in the controller 20 also in printing output forproofing in this proof printer 30.

At this point, a concept including also simulation display in thedisplay parts such as the color displays of the controller 20 and theclient 10 and display of the rough image for reference in addition tothe proof output (proof printing output) is defined as “confirmationoutput” performing confirmation output of printed matter in thisspecification.

<Color Information>

The “color information” registered in the color information database DBis now described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the “colorinformation”. At this point, a case of specifying color information ofcolors employed as plates (color plates) is described. As the plates,there is a case of employing a color such as “gold” referred to as aspecific color directly as a “plate” in addition to a case of employingfour basic colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and K (black),for example. Concretely, color information as to each color employed assuch a plate (color plate) is registered as that including the followinginformation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the color information has respective items of “colorname”, “ink name”, “printing order”, “screen angle”, “processcolorization instruction”, “pseudo color” and “ink type”. The respectiveitems are now successively described.

First, the “color name” means the name of the color. A designer of adocument or the like subjected to printing can perform specification of“color” in each area of the printing object. Then, it follows that thecolor in each area is specified and preserved in this color name indocument data.

The “ink name” is the name of an ink to be charged in the printingmachine 40 as that expressing the color corresponding to the plate, anda name such as a concrete trade name of the ink capable of specifyingthe ink can be described. Thus, it becomes possible to specify the inkto be employed for printing in practice in correspondence to the “colorname”. For example, the trade name “yellow 123” as the ink name can beregistered in correspondence to “yellow” as the color name. It can besimilarly set also for a specific color, and the trade name “gold 456”as the ink name can be registered in correspondence to “gold” as thecolor name, for example. The “yellow 123” and the “gold 456” areillustrated as the trade names.

Further, the “printing order” is an index employed at the time ofsetting the processing order for performing printing of each plate whena plurality of plates are present. More concretely, a prescribednumerical value is supplied to each color name as an absolute value, andprint processing of each plate is performed in order where thesenumerical values are small or large. This is based on, in correspondenceto that it is recognized as an absolutely different color in a printedstate when the printing order is different in print processing employinga plurality of color plates, that it is necessary to prevent such asituation and set proper printing order of color plates. Incorrespondence to each plate, a color responsive to largeness/smallnessof transmittance of each color (or largeness/smallness of concentrationof the color) is set as an index expressing the printing order.

The “screen angle” is a screen angle set every color plate. In order toprevent occurrence of moire, values different from each other arepreferably set for the respective plates.

Further, the “process colorization instruction” is an instructionsupplied to a specific color other than YMCK and setting performingspecification as to whether to make printing with an ink for thespecific color charged in the printing machine 40 or make printing withonly a process color (e.g., any color of the four colors YMCK), andeither value of ON and OFF is set.

If the process colorization instruction is “off”, for example, rasterimage processing is performed on the assumption of employing an inkexpressed by an ink name corresponding to the color name of the specificcolor, i.e., a dedicated ink for the specific color, when expressing thespecific color, and thereafter print processing is performed with thisdedicated ink. If the process colorization instruction is “on”, on theother hand, it performs raster image processing performing colordecomposition on the plate corresponding to the process color withoutemploying the dedicated ink for the specific color, and print processingwith only the process color is performed.

Description is now made on the “pseudo color”. The “pseudo color” isinformation related to a color employed when expressing the color not bythe color specific to the color but by a pseudo color.

When performing simulation on the color display, for example, RGBexpression corresponding to the “color name” can be defined. Concretely,this RGB expression is supplied by combination of concentration values(brightness values) of the respective color components R (red), G(green) and B (blue).

It is also possible to define YMCK expression at the time of employmentfor output to the proof printer 30. Concretely, the YMCK expression canbe supplied by combination (Y, M, C, K) of concentration values(brightness values) of the respective color components.

Further, it is also possible to define YMCK expression for the specificcolor such as “gold”, and concrete values of the respective colorcomponents of YMCK at the time of performing specific color expressionby the process color can be decided when the process colorizationinstruction is on in association with the aforementioned “processcolorization instruction”.

Thus, (1) information by RGB expression employed for simulation displayon the color display, (2) information by YMCK expression when employedfor proof printing output and (3) information by YMCK expression inregular press set for the specific color or an intermediate color(described later) are included in the information as the “pseudo color”.While it is assumed that the same information is shared in the followingdescription as to the information of (2) and (3) among these, the samemay be separately set in order to enable more flexible correspondence.

The “ink type” is a parameter defining the type of the ink, and thecontents of processing in trap processing (described later) are decidedin response to this parameter. More concretely, any of a plurality ofparameters (Normal/Transparent/Opaque/Opaque Ignore) is set, and in whatsituation what contents of trap processing to perform is decided incorrespondence to the set parameter.

While registration as to the color information related to the coloremployed as the plate has been described in the above, the colorinformation is not restricted to this but a pseudo color for anintermediate color other than the color (YMCK here) employed as theplate can be defined as part of the color information, for example. Forexample, YMCK expression corresponding to each intermediate color suchas red, green, blue, lemon, orange or yellowish green can be previouslydefined as the pseudo color. According to this, it becomes possible toreproduce an intermediate color specified by the designer in printing.FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example thereof, and shows such a casethat YMCK expression and RGB expression of a pseudo color are specifiedfor “color name: xxxx”.

Also when the color information thus expresses color information relatedto an intermediate color, a template similar to that in the case ofexpressing color information as a plate can be employed, and onlynecessary items may be described. When information related to the item“pseudo color” is registered as to color information related to anintermediate color, for example, the registered information can beutilized in later print processing.

B. Operation

<Outline>

FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 are flow charts showing operations of the printingsystem 1. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an overall flow, and FIG. 7 andFIG. 8 are flow charts showing flows related to parts (a step S40 and astep S30) thereof. The operations of the printing system 1 are nowdescribed with reference to these figures.

As shown in FIG. 6, it performs job registration of document datasubjected to printing at a step S20 after registration of colorinformation is performed at a step S10 in this printing system 1, andconfirmation output processing (step 30) and print processing (step S40)are performed as to this document data with color information registeredin the color information database DB. Each operation is now described indetail.

<Registration of Color Information>

First, it performs registration of the color information at the stepS10. This color information is color information including the colorname and the prescribed information related to this color name, asdescribed above. Registration of this color information is performedwith the input part 6 of the controller 20 or the like.

At this point, description is made on a case of performing registrationof color information related to each color plate as to five plates intotal including four plates related to the respective colors “Y”, “M”,“C” and “K” and one plate related to the specific color (“gold” here,hereinafter abbreviated as “GD”) in the printing system 1.

Setting of each color plate can be performed with a screen G1 forsetting color information shown in FIG. 9. Setting of color informationrelated to the “GD” plate is now described.

First, it inputs “gold” in a column A1 as the color name. Then, itinputs “gold 456” in a column A2 as the ink name, inputs “015” in acolumn A3 as the printing order, and inputs “30” (degrees) in a columnA4 as the screen angle. At this point, the ink name can also beselected, from a plurality of previously registered ink names and inputin addition to the direct input in the column A2. Further, it selects acolumn A6 and supplies an off instruction in relation to the processcolorization instruction. Either the column A5 or the column A6 isselected, so that the other one enters a non-selected state when oneenters a selected state. As to a pseudo color 1 (YMCK expression) and apseudo color 2 (RGB expression), it inputs respective values inrespective columns A7 to A13, thereby inputting respective values shownin the figure. As to each of the pseudo color 1 and the pseudo color 2,it is also possible to press any of respective buttons A14 and A15thereby calling a color sample register screen and setting therespective ones of each YMCK value and RGB value set following the colorsample register. Then, it sets the ink type. This setting is performedby selecting one from four choices A16 to A19. At this point, it shows acase where “Normal” is selected.

Thus, input related to the specific color “gold” is performed. Theaforementioned respective columns may not necessarily be totally inputat the time of first registration. In other words, only necessary itemsmay be set. When performing only proof print processing by the proofprinter 30, for example, only information (information related to theaforementioned “pseudo color 1”) necessary for the proof printprocessing may be set and the remaining information may be set up tobefore the print processing performed later. It is also possible tofacilitate input of unset items in the print processing.

Also as to the respective color plates of the remaining “Y”, “M”, “C”and “K”, it similarly registers color information. Also as to colorinformation related to a color other than the color plates, i.e., anintermediate color, it properly performs input at need.

While the above description has been made as to the case of performing aregistration operation of color information with the input part 6 of thecontroller 20 or the like, it is also possible to perform a registrationoperation of color information also when employing the input part of theclient 10 or the like. In relation to input of color information,further, it is also possible to perform the same with an automaticregistration function described later in addition to input performed byan operator as described above.

<Job Registration>

Then, job registration of registering a printing job to be executed isperformed by specifying the document data subjected to printing at thestep S20 (FIG. 6).

For example, the operator specifies document data created and/or editedin the client 10 (FIG. 1) and transmits the same from the client 10 tothe controller 20 along with job contents data. The controller 20receives the transmitted document data (step S21). Then, it registersthese received data, thereby performing job registration (step S22). Asdescribed above, the control part 20 b of the controller 20 performsmanagement of execution of printing jobs transmitted from the pluralityof clients 10. Thus, the document data to be printed is specified by thejob management function by this control part 20 b.

Thereafter confirmation output processing (step S30) and printprocessing (step S40) are performed on the specified document. At thispoint, the print processing (step S40) is first described.

<Printing Output>

At the step S40, print processing is performed on the document dataspecified as the printing object at the step S20. FIG. 7 is a flow chartillustrating detailed operations of the step S40, and each operation isdescribed with reference to FIG. 7.

First, at a step S41, the printing operation processing part 20 d (FIG.3) of the controller 20 acquires the color name specified as the colorof the prescribed area in the document data subjected to printing. Moreconcretely, it comes to acquire a specified color name included inobject data corresponding to the prescribed area in the document data.

Then, at a step S42, the printing operation processing part 20 dretrieves and extracts the color information corresponding to the colorname acquired at the step S41 from the color information registered inthe color information database DB at the step S10.

Further, at a step S43, the printing operation processing part 20 dperforms raster image processing related to the document data subjectedto printing on the basis of the color information extracted at the stepS42.

In this raster image processing, the value of the “screen angle”registered in correspondence to each color plate is employed.

When the color name “gold” which is the specific color is specified asthe color of the prescribed area, it distinguishes the way of colordecomposition of the raster image processing in response to whether the“process colorization instruction” included in the extractedcorresponding color information is on or off. When the “processcolorization instruction” is on, raster image processing is performedwith the YMCK expression of the pseudo color included in this colorinformation. When the “process colorization instruction” is off, on theother hand, raster image processing is performed on the assumption thatoutput by the “GD” plate is accompanied without employing theinformation of the pseudo color included in this color information.

Further, trap processing is performed at need in the aforementionedraster image processing. The trap processing stands for processing ofmaking one area creep into another area for preventing “platemisregistration” in two areas generated in different plates to beadjacent areas in final printing, the so-called “creeping of the plate”.Concretely, it provides overlapping portions in adjacent two areas forpreventing the “plate misregistration” phenomenon.

When the concentrations of adjacent areas are at the same degree, forexample, it is possible to prevent “plate misregistration” by expandingan area of a color (the so-called pale color) having large transmittanceby a prescribed width and making the same creep into another area havinga color (the so-called dark color) having relatively smalltransmittance. At this point, the “printing order” is informationreflecting the transmittance of the plate in the aforementioned colorinformation, and hence it becomes possible to employ the informationrelated to this “printing order” and decide what area to expand inresponse to largeness/smallness of the value. In other words, it ispossible to perform trap processing by employing the information relatedto the “printing order” in the aforementioned color information.

When the concentrations of adjacent areas are different from each otherand the “concentration” (e.g. dot percent) of this area is small in thecolor (the so-called dark color) having small transmittance as comparedwith the color (the so-called pale color) having large transmittance, itmay contrarily be preferable to expand the area of the color havingsmall transmittance by a prescribed width and make the same creep intothe other area. At this time, trap processing is performed by furtheremploying information related to the “concentration” included in objectdata corresponding to each area. In other words, trap processing isperformed with the information related to the “printing order” in theaforementioned information and the information related to the“concentration” included in the object data corresponding to both areasadjacent to each other in the document data.

In this trap processing, the information related to the “ink type” inthe aforementioned color information can be further employed. It ispossible to decide the contents of the trap processing in response tothe set value of this “ink type”. It is possible to distinguish andprocess whether or not to perform trap processing in response to varioustypes of situations by utilizing this information.

Then, at a step S44, ink confirmation processing is performed by theprinting operation processing part 20 d (FIG. 3). At this point,confirmation processing related to five color plates in total isperformed. Concretely, it confirms whether or not a correct inkcorresponding to each color plate to be printed is charged in correctorder in each of the five printing mechanisms 45 a to 45 e of theprinting machine 40.

The arrangement order (printing order) of the color plates is set on thebasis of the information of the “printing order”. These five plates of“Y”, “M”, “C”, “K” and “GD” are sorted and arranged according to themagnitudes of the index values of the “printing order” thereof inascending order or descending order. Thus, proper printing order isdecided, and set as that to be arranged in the respective printingmechanisms 45 a to 45 e according to the printing order. When order of“Y”, “M”, “C”, “GD” and “K” is set as proper printing order, forexample, inks corresponding to the “Y” plate, the “M” plate, the “C”plate, “GD” plate and the “K” plate are set to be mounted on theprinting mechanism 45 a, the printing mechanism 45 b, the printingmechanism 45 c, the printing mechanism 45 d and the printing mechanism45 e respectively.

Then, it confirms that ink names of the inks packaged (actually charged)in the respective printing mechanisms 45 a to 45 e at this time areidentical to the ink names of the inks to be charged in the printingmechanisms included in the extracted color information corresponding tothe respective colors, thereby performing ink confirmation processing.The ink names of the irks packaged in the respective printing mechanisms45 a to 45 e can be obtained by reading identification codes such as barcodes on container surfaces of the packaged inks or by such an operationthat a mounter or the like inputs and registers the names of the mountedinks in ink packaging.

When correct inks are not arranged on correct positions in thisconfirmation processing, a warning signal is generated and the operatorreceives the warning signal and correctly rearranges these inks. Afterit is confirmed that the correct inks are arranged on the correctpositions, it advances to a next step S45.

At the step S45, it performs output processing (printing outputprocessing) to the printing machine 40. The data rasterized at theaforementioned step S43 is output to the printing machine 40 by theoutput part 20 e (see FIG. 3). The printing machine 40 performs printprocessing with the painting mechanisms 45 a to 45 e for the respectiveplates or the like on the basis of the received data.

At this point, the printing system 1 registers the color informationincluding the color names and the prescribed information related to thecolor names in the color information database DB, then acquires thecolor name specified as the color of the prescribed area in the digitaldata subjected to printing, retrieves and extracts the color informationcorresponding to the acquired color name from the color informationregistered in the color information database DB, performs raster imageprocessing on the basis of the extracted color information and performsprint processing on the basis of the rasterize-processed data, wherebythe color information corresponding to the color name specified as thecolor of the prescribed area in the digital data subjected to printingcan be correctly extracted for performing print processing on the basisof the extracted color information. In other words, it is not necessaryto set color information transferred by a memo or the like everyprinting dissimilarly to the prior art, but print processing correctlyreflecting supplied color information in the digital data subjected toprinting is enabled.

In particular, print processing is performed on the basis of theinformation as the color plate included in the color information,whereby it is possible to perform print processing while correctlyreflecting the information related to the color plate.

This color information includes the ink name of the ink to be charged ineach printing mechanism of the printing machine 40 and the controller 20performs ink confirmation processing by comparing the ink name of theink to be charged included in the extracted color information and theink name of the ink packaged in the printing machine 40 with each other,whereby it is possible to automatically confirm whether or not settingof the ink is correct.

Further, it performs trap processing deciding the direction of creepingof the plate on the basis of the printing order included in the colorinformation extracted as corresponding to the area from the colorinformation database DB, whereby it is possible to perform this trapprocessing while correctly reflecting supplied color information.

<Confirmation Output>

Then, the step S30 (FIG. 6) is described. The step S30 is adapted toperform confirmation output performed in advance of the print processingby the printing machine 40.

As the confirmation output, there exists proof printing output by theproof printer 30 or output such as simulation display on the colordisplay and rough image display for reference, as described above.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating detailed operations at the step S30.At this point, each operation in simulation display on the color displayis described with reference to FIG. 8.

In simulation display on the color display, output processing correctlyreflecting the color information is enabled by performing raster imageprocessing or the like with the information related to the “pseudocolor” in the color information. Therefore, it performs an operationsubstantially similar to each operation at the step S40.

First, the printing operation processing part 20 d of the controller 20acquires the color name specified as the color of the prescribed area inthe document data subjected to printing at a step S31.

Then, at a step S32, it retrieves and extracts the color informationcorresponding to the color name acquired at the step S31 from the colorinformation registered in the color information database at the stepS10.

Further, at a step S33, the printing operation processing part 20 dperforms raster image processing related to the document data subjectedto printing and generates a simulation image on the basis of the colorinformation extracted at the step S32. At this point, it performs rasterimage processing with the information related to the RGB expression ofthe pseudo color included in the color information of each color. Insimulation display, the information of the “process colorizationinstruction” may not be employed but a proper simulation image relatedto the color can be generated also as to the specific color “gold”, forexample, if employing the information related to the pseudo color.

At a step S35, output processing (confirmation output processing) of theobtained simulation image to the color display is performed. Thus, thedata rasterized at the aforementioned step S33 is output to the colordisplay which is the display part of the controller 20 or the client 10,and the simulation image is displayed on the color display.

While simulation display on the color display has been described in theabove, it is possible to implement output of reference rough imagedisplay (thumbnail display) or the like on the color display also bysimilar operations.

Also as to proof printing output by the proof printer 30, further, it ispossible to perform confirmation output processing by processing similarto the above, although this is different in a point that it performsraster image processing with the information related to the YMCKexpression of the pseudo color included in the color information of eachcolor.

At this point, the color information includes the information related tothe pseudo color for expressing the color corresponding to the colorname and the printing system 1 retrieves and extracts the colorinformation corresponding to the color of the prescribed area in thedigital data subjected to printing from the color information registeredin the color information database DB and performs confirmation outputprocessing on the basis of the information related to the pseudo colorincluded in the extracted color information, whereby simulation displaycan be performed on the basis of correct information. Further, the colorinformation related to the pseudo color is registered in associationwith various information related to the color plate employed forprinting and the color information is managed in a centralized manner,whereby maintenance of data or the like is facilitated.

C. Others

While the color information has been registered in the color informationdatabase DB by manual input through a set screen (see FIG. 9) in theaforementioned embodiment, it is not restricted to this but mayautomatically retrieve, extract and register the color informationincluded in the document data. Concretely, it retrieves and extracts thecolor information (e.g., information related to the color name and thepseudo color corresponding to the color name) in the document data inadvance of print processing, and additionally registers unregisteredcolor information. This additional registration, performed on colorinformation whose color name itself is unregistered, is also performedon such color information that all or part of color information otherthan the color name is unregistered although the color name is alreadyregistered. It is possible to improve efficiency of the registrationoperation by such an automatic registration function of the colorinformation. When already registered information is present, consistencyof data can be taken by taking action of automatically performingoverwriting or confirming whether or not overwriting may be performed tothe operator.

In this printing system 1, it can access the color information databaseDB through the controller 20 and/or the client 10 for performing amaintenance operation (registration operation) such as addition, change,deletion or the like of the color information database DB. In thismaintenance operation of the color information database DB, it ispossible to improve efficiency of the maintenance operation by employingvarious types of editing functions. As these editing functions, thereare various types of sorting functions such as input order, printingorder, the Japanese syllabary order and the like and various types ofgroup display functions such as identical screen angle group display,identical used ink name group display and the like, for example. Inrelation to the color information, it is also possible to expand thecolor information by adding a registration item other than theaforementioned registration items (“color name”, “printing order”, “inkname” and the like) or the like.

While the printing machine 40 has been illustrated as a single printingapparatus comprising a plurality of printing mechanisms in theaforementioned embodiment, the printing machine 40 may be that of a modecomprising a plurality of printing units each having one or a pluralityof printing mechanisms as a single unit.

While that of a system having an exposure head every plate has beenillustrated as the printing machine 40 in the aforementioned embodiment,it may be another system (e.g., an ink jet system) having no exposurehead so far as the same performs print processing per color (plate)through color decomposition.

While the client 10 has been connected with the controller 20 throughthe communication line CL and so structured that communication employinga communication system by wire is enabled, it may be structured to becommunicable with a communication system by wire. Also in this case, theclient 10 is enabled to access the color information database DB in thecontroller 20 through a communication system by radio.

While the present invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and the present is notrestricted thereto. It is understood that numerous unillustratedmodifications can be devised without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing system (1) performing printing on thebasis of digital data, comprising: a) a printing control unit (20)managing color information, having: registration means registering colorinformation including color names and prescribed information related tosaid color names, specified color name acquisition means acquiring acolor name specified as the color of a prescribed area in digital datasubjected to printing, color information extraction means retrieving andextracting color information corresponding to said acquired color namefrom the color information registered in said registration means, andraster image processing means performing raster image processing on thebasis of said extracted color information; and b) printing means (30)performing print processing on the basis of rasterize-processed dataobtained by said raster image processing.
 2. The printing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said color information includesinformation as a color plate, and said printing means performs saidprint processing on the basis of the information as the color plateincluded in said color information extracted by said color informationextraction means.
 3. The printing system according to claim 2, whereinsaid color information extracted by said color information extractionmeans includes the ink name of a first ink to be charged in saidprinting means, and said printing control unit further comprisesconfirmation means comparing the ink name of a second ink packaged insaid printing means with the ink name of said first ink therebyperforming ink confirmation processing.
 4. The printing system accordingto claim 3, wherein said print processing includes trap processingdeciding the direction of creeping of a plate, and said trap processingis performed on the basis of information related to printing orderincluded in the color information extracted by said color informationextraction means.
 5. The printing system according to claim 4, whereinsaid printing system further comprises confirmation output meansperforming confirmation output of printed matter, said color informationincludes information related to a pseudo color for expressing the colorcorresponding to said color name, and said confirmation output meansperforms confirmation output processing on the basis of the informationrelated to said pseudo color included in said extracted colorinformation.
 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein saidregistration means retrieves, extracts and registers color informationincluded in digital data.
 7. The printing system according to claim 6,further comprising: a client (10) coupled to said printing control unitthrough a communication system, wherein said client can access saidcolor information registered by said registration means through saidcommunication system.
 8. A printing method performing printing on thebasis of digital data, including: a step (S10) of registering colorinformation including color names and prescribed information related tosaid color names; a step (S41) of acquiring a color name specified asthe color of a printing object area in digital data subjected toprinting; a step (S42) of retrieving and extracting color informationcorresponding to said acquired color name from said registered colorinformation; a step (S43) of performing raster image processing on thebasis of said extracted color information; and a step (S45) ofperforming print processing on the basis of rasterize-processed dataobtained by said raster image processing.
 9. A computer-readablerecording medium (9) recording a program to be read and executed by acomputer to carry out the steps of: a) managing color information by:a-1) registering color information including color names and prescribedinformation related to said color names, a-2) acquiring a color namespecified as the color of a prescribed area in digital data subjected toprinting, a-3) retrieving and extracting color information correspondingto said acquired color name from said registered color information, anda-4) performing raster image processing on the basis of said extractedcolor information; and b) controlling to perform print processing on thebasis of said rasterize-processed data.
 10. A computer-readablerecording medium (9) recording a program to be read and executed by acomputer, said computer performing as a client (10) which is a part of aprinting system comprising a printing control unit (20) managing colorinformation and printing means (30) performing print processing, saidprogram, when executed, causing said computer to carry out the steps of:a) accessing said printing control unit (20) for managing colorinformation by: a-1) registering color information including color namesand prescribed information related to said color names, a-2) acquiring acolor name specified as the color of a prescribed area in digital datasubjected to printing, a-3) retrieving and extracting color informationcorresponding to said acquired color name from said registered colorinformation, and a-4) performing raster image processing on the basis ofsaid extracted color information; and b) controlling said printing means(30) for performing print processing on the basis of saidrasterize-processed data.